Electrical connector



- March 10, 1959 w; A. G'ETTIG ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Ju1y`27, 1956INVENTOR W.A.GETT|Gv ATTORNEYS United safes Patente 2,877,442 ELECTRICALCONNECTOR William A. Gettig, Spring Mills, Pa. Application July 27,1956, Serial No. 600,526

1 claim. (c|.-s39zss) This invention relates to fasteners or connectorsby means of which two or more members are detachably or permanentlyunited, and more particularly to connectors for electrical conductors bymeans of which transfer of electrical energy is accomplished.y

The invention relates further to electrical connectors of the typeemployed in the production of electronic devices especially on a largescale where saving of material, time of assembly, space, effort, andVconcentra tion are important and combine to simplify the deter minationof the size, material and labor costs, time in manufacture and otherimportant matters which require consideration in the production of anyproduct.

In the mass production of electronic devices employing electricalconnectors, desirable solid connections have not always been obtainedand the assembly of the ref spective parts has involved the applicationof force away from the operator or pushing force with complications dueto engagement or contact with other parts or objects which interfere orcause injury due to such contact.`

Accordingly, it has been found desirable to provide electricalconnectors which could be coupled by application of force moving towardsthe operator or a pulling force, in order that contactwithan object isless likely.

It is anobject of theinvention to 'provide a type of electricalconnector which is simple and inexpensive to produce, can be easily andquickly applied or removed, by means of which a path for electricalenergy can be readily provided, and connection of the parts can bereadily accomplished.

Another object of the invention `is to provide an -electrical connectorhaving parts by which a solid positive electrical connection can beestablished and the assembly of the parts of the connector isfacilitated to a very substantial degree by the configuration of theparts so that they may be connected from a sense of feel and theapplication of a pulling force on one or both of the members. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein:

Fig. l is a perspective illustrating one application of the inventionwith one of the members of L-shaped configuration;

Fig. 2, a further enlarged independent view of the L- shaped member ofFig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4, further enlarged perspectives of single end complementaryconnectors;

Fig. 5, an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6, a fragmentary perspective of a modified form of a complementaryconnector.

Briey stated, the invention comprises a connector in the form ofsheetmetal plates having complementary portions by means of which theyare fastened together in a manner to provide a solid electricalconnection and also with means for clampingly holding electricalconductors.

The connectors may be made of relatively thin ma- 2,877,442 PatentedMar. 140, 1959 terial, one having a portion struck from its bodyandotset to provide a retaining hook, and the other having an opening sothat it may be applied over and pulled beneath suchrfhook. In order tomaintain the parts in assembled relation, additional cooperatingelements are provided in theform of a projection and a receivingopening, the projection being on the under side of the hook and thereceiving opening being in ther connector underlying such vhook so that`when.theconnectmispulled beneath the hook the projection onv theunderside `of the hook will engage .the openingin the flat end of thecomplementary connector. While the projection in the opening isdescribed as being particularly located it maybe located other thandescribed, it being only necessary lto provide means of resistingmovement between the two parts of the coupling so that they do notaccidentally move one relative .-to the other suiciently to becomedisconnected, butin order to disconnect them al prescribed force isnecessary; v .j

The invention also contemplates securing one .of the connector elementsupon a support to retain one coupling member in definite positionrelative to the object to which it is applied as well as theincorporating of guiding and reinforcing portions which not only providelateral stability and strength for the terminals but serve to assist inretaining them in fixed relation.

With continued reference to the drawing, a support 10 is adapted toreceive a hollow drawn post grommet 11 by means of.which one member ofan electrical connector such as the body of a terminal or tab 12 may beattached. The post 11 is drawn from the body 12 in a manner to beapplied to a support much .the same as a conventional unit. It isl'square to prevent rotation. and to require only one for mounting iniixed position on a support, unlike the conventional connections thatpush, snap, screw or solder in place. The cooperating members of theconnector may be of ysheet metal or the like and o f any desiredconfiguration and gauge or thickness. 'Also they may be multiple orsingle.

As illustrated in Figs. l and Zthe terminal member is of the duplicateor multiple. end type. .The body 12 of the terminal has a couple ofbrass tine or spring clip portions 13 struck therefrom and oifset in amanner leaving openings 14 in the base 12.. In order to supply addedstrengthand lateral stability as `well as to cradle thepartsagainst'turning one relative to the other the body 12 is provided at itsedges with ribs or upturned flanges 15, 16. These flanges likewise serveas a guide for the cooperative complementary connector or tongue 17which has an opening 18 through which the clip 13 is received and bypulling the tongue 17 its relatively flat end portion will be caused tomove beneath the tab 13 to cause the parts to be properly connected.

In order to retain the parts in assembled relation the tab 13 isprovided with a protuberance or projection 19 (Fig. 5) on its underside, which projection or protuberance is adapted to ride into anelongated receiving opening 20 in the tongue 17. While the projection 19and opening 20 are illustrated and described as located in a particularmanner their purpose is merely to maintain the members connected.Accordingly the invention is not limited by their being of anyparticular form or c0r1- fined to any particular location.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a solid electricalconnection is provided between two mating terminals and any preferredtype of connection may be made between the ends of a pair of matingterminals or between two terminals and an intermediate connector. By wayof illustration the complementary terminal or connector 17 may be rolledalong its rear end portions to provide integral clamping lugs 21 and 22adapted to directly engage and clamp and therefore make a good contactwith a conductor 23, the lugs 22 intimately engaging and clamping theinsulation 24 in which such conductor is encased.

In order to provide a simple connection between two conductors, a singlemember 17 and a second member 12 (Fig. 4) may be provided-member 12 maybe used in lieu of member 12 and have a hook 13', opening 11i sideflanges 15 and 16', projection 19' on hook 13 and conductor grippingportions 21 and 22 for engagement with an electrical conductor. In orderto secure the connector to a support, the member 12 may have a grommet11 for attachment to the support.

A modified form of complementary terminal or connector 17 may beemployed as illustrated in Fig. 6 which is adapted to receive a pair ofconductors. body provides elongated integral clamping lugs 21 and 22,such lugs being of sufficient length to substantially encircle anddirectly engage and clamp conductors 23 and insulation 24.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that the present inventioncontemplates the joining of multiple electrical conductors by means ofcomplementary connectors in any desired arrangement and that theseconnectors are relatively inexpensive and yet elect a terial saving andother advantages by their use.

Also, in order to couple the connectors all that is necessary is toplace one upon the other so that the hook or clip 13 extends through theopening 18 and then the members pull apart or member 17 pulls relativeto the member 12.

The conguration of the cooperating parts which form the connectors aresuch that coupling them together is facilitated and made simple andeasy. This is due, to a substantial degree, to the generally rectangularshape of the hook 13 and the opening 18, which opening forms in effect aguide or finder slot for the hook. rl`he fact that the connectors haveparallel sides and are provided with parallel guides 15 and 16 also aidsassembly.

Furthermore, the attached ends of the hooks 13 and 13 are inclined sothat they facilitate the free end connecting member 17 or 17 riding overthe same and the free ends of the hooks 13 and 13 are curved upwardly at25 and 25', respectively, in such a manner that they guide the edge ofthe opening 1S of the member 17 beneath them.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the The drawing and described in the specication but onlyas indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An electrical connector comprising a plurality of complementary memberseach comprising a relatively at rectangular body of sheet metal stock,means adjacent one end of each of said bodies -for good electricalcontact with an electrical conductor, means on one of said bodies foranchoring it on a support, one of said bodies being planar and having asubstantially rectangular opening in its intermediate portion andanother of said bodies having an offset in its intermediate portion adistance less than the thickness of the one of .said bodies and deiininga resilient clip displaceable away from the body and of a size toreadily pass through said rectangular opening, said clip and openingserving to facilitate orientation oE the members when assembled, thesides of each of said members being substantially parallel and the sidesof one have opposed parallel flanges extending in the same direction andbelow which the other is adapted to be contained so that when the offsetportion is disposed'in said opening and the cooperating members aremoved in opposite directions said clip can receive the edge of the othermember which is adjacent said rectangular opening, and complementaryfastening means engagcable between said members for retaining saidmembers in assembled relation, said spring clip being disposedlongitudinally in a direction opposite the other member to facilitateassembly of said member by pulling them longitudinally away from eachother when the spring clip is engaged through said rectangular opening,said fastening means comprising a downwardly projecting detent on theresilient clip and extending below the adjacent surface of the one ofsaid bodies, said resilient clip including an upwardly curved terminalend for guidingly receiving the edge of said rectangular opening of theother member therebeneath when the members are assembled, said resilientclip extending in said same direction as and intermediately between saidparallel flanges.

References Cited in the tile of this' patent UNrrED STATES PATENTS831,402 Austin sept. 1s, 1906 2,497,523 Warkentin Feb. 14, 19502,523,465 Graham Sept. 26, 1950 2,540,037 Vough et al. Jan. 30, 19512,668,279 Epstein Feb. 2, 1954

